Laura Gadwa has been named the new executive director of the Columbia Falls Chamber of Commerce.
The Washington native replaced Executive Director Stacey Schnebel on May 1. Gadwa was previously the chamber’s member service administrator.
“It’s such an exciting time to be part of the chamber because this community is growing and a lot of things are happening here,” she said.
Gadwa grew up in Washington and taught in Kansas before moving to Columbia Falls in 2014 when her husband got a job with Plum Creek. She worked in childcare in the Flathead Valley until taking a job with the chamber in 2016.
The new director said her biggest goal would be helping local businesses thrive during the slower shoulder seasons. She said the chamber is in a good position to do that because of some of the work done in recent years to build its online presence.
“We’ve been on a good path in recent years and I think we can build on that,” she said.